Dear Mary;

How great that you can write your own material for teaching and helping
parents.  I too tried my hand at making a basic, easy to read breastfeeding
packet for our NICU.  It included information about  Facts & Fiction, Diet
(basic good nutrition), Pumping techniques &  NICU information.    At the
time I came to work there, the unit was giving out "Normal Newborn
information" to our Extremely Low Birth Weight  (ELBW) infants / NICU
families.

Sad to say the only folks that appreciated it were some of you here at
LACTNET.  The hospital's, more updated packet was later designed and
replaced the one I had made.  I feel that it still does not meet our parents
needs but I am not in the circle that approves these sort of things.  Ever
feel like your are just beating your head up against a brick wall and you
just don't know when to give up? :-(      Sometimes I just want to forget
that I have IBCLC certification and go back to being " just a nurse" ( not
offence to nurses - I am proud to be one).  I feel that the money and time I
spent to obtain my certification could "REALLY" have been put to better use
for my family, but then I thing about the few I have been able to support
and I find a small glimmer of why I worked so hard just to make it happen.
Pardon the short pity party.  Had a bad day and it is so depressing.

Guess we all need a little support and affirmation of what we do.  Mine
comes from my husband of 25 years.  He can never remember the letters
(IBCLC) so he calls it (please for give the term) " my titty-mama" work.  He
was very supportive but does get some what tired of seeing me so upset.

Oh well, now I feel a little better.  Thank you for letting me ventilate.
And Mary and all the others of us out there - keep up the good work.  It
really will make a difference - some day.

Ann




> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Fri, 21 Feb 2003 20:38:08 EST
> From:    "Mary Kay Smith, RN, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Writing your own materials
>
> I actually prefer to write my own, then you don't have to "put up" with
> things you don't believe to get the things you really do want. The few
> exceptions are:
> Rebecca Glover's materials
> Anything from Noodle Soup (Learning Curve)
> Most of the Childbirth Graphics brochures.
> Nancy Fuentes information (CD rom in English and Spanish)
> Diane Wiessnger's handouts
> At my last job, there were no materials available when I started because
> there had never been a lactation program. So I began by writing
> "breastfeeding basics" and had it translated into Spanish. I'd be glad to
> send a copy to anyone who cares....when I get the disk from work.  The
nice
> thing about this is that if my partner and I want to change something, it
> doesn't cost a lot and we don't have to waste brochures that are already
> printed. We have a nice folder put together. We put the hospital logo on
each
> info sheet, keep the language simple and have the office number in the
footer
> of every page. We do also use some commerically printed sheets such as the
> Ameda/Egnell and Medela tear sheets.
>        I also wrote "how to combine breast & bottlefeeding" because SO
many
> people want to do that. It ssentially explains colostrom swallowing
patterns,
> the intiation of milk supply, flow and so on.
> Mary Kay Smith, RN, IBCLC
> Romeoville IL
> Who loves to write and will never make any money at it! But it's so much
fun,
> I'll keep writing.
>
>              ***********************************************
>

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